Consultation Hub

Sutton Council asked to hear your opinion to better understand views towards domestic abuse and local services in the community.

We wanted to find out how we can improve services and make sure that it is easy for residents to access the support they might need, at the right time. 

We received a great deal of information which we can review and work towards improving. Three key points from the survey include a need for:

1. A clearer understanding on where to go or who to contact for domestic abuse help if needed. 

2. Details on where to go for help if concerned about your own behaviour. 

3. The majority of residents feel they can speak to an independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA) about their circumstances most comfortably. 

The Domestic Abuse Strategic Partnership Board are reviewing recommendations in light of the survey responses and the COVID-19 pandemic. These recommendations include the need for a perpetrator campaign to raise awareness on where to go for help for those concerned about their own behaviour. The Board has also been recommended to agree a sole point of contact for those needing help so we can promote where residents should go for help if needed to avoid any confusion. 

Finally from 1 July following a period of no face-to-face domestic abuse services, we are able to offer face-to-face appointments with our IDVAs for those who need to speak to someone and get help and guidance. 

We asked relevant statutory bodies, transport organisations, local interests and residents groups and individuals for their comments on the draft Local Implementation Plan, in particular whether they agreed with the priorities identified and the local schemes to achieve them.

There was a broad cross-section of support for the various schemes in the draft Local Implementation Plan and requests for more on cycling and walking.

We provided greater clarity on cycling and walking. The revised draft was approved by the Mayor of London and has now been published. It can be found at https://www.sutton.gov.uk/info/200583/travel_and_transport/1540/transport_plans

We asked residents about proposed changes to our Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which would increase the council tax reduction in line with inflation. The proposals aimed to better support low income households by recognising that as inflation increases it is important that the support our low income households receive increases too.

You said that low income households should be supported and that applying an inflationary increase to their Council Tax entitlement was the fairest way to achieve the correct level of support.

We introduced an inflationary increase to all the income bandings within our scheme in line with the increase in Consumer Price Index but limited any increase to  5% should inflation exceed that level.

Further information about this decision can be found by clicking here.